Monk Coniston (HF Holidays), north of Coniston Water October 2025

A four nights self-guided walking holiday, with fellow Beverley Ramblers.

Holidays

Photo Gallery

Coniston area where we walked.

Day 1 walk was led by Joe.
It was a walk to the pier at the north of the lake, a coffee and then we boarded the boat which took us down to Sunny Bank.
The trip was around 15 minutes.
We then walked back to Coniston on the Cumbria Way.
In the town most of us had a coffee and cake in a nice cafe before walking the mile or so back to Monk Coniston.

Day 2 walk was led by Chris.
A walk up the copper mining valley to the northwest of Coniston, lunch at Levers Water and then a descent by a different route to Coniston village.
A nice pint of Coniston IPA at the Black Lion Inn, where the beer is brewed.

Day 3 walk was led by Joe.
A walk past the pretty lake at Tarn Hows, then further north to Black Crag (also known as Black Fell) and then return by a more westerly route to Monk Coniston.
A few of us then walked into Coniston for a coffee at the same cafe we'd visited before.
All walks were between about 8 and 10 miles or so.
Walk 1 (Tuesday 21 Oct)

After a coffee at the cafe at the lakeside we boarded the boat and headed south.
The weather was a bit overcast but mainly dry.
We disembark at Sunny Bank jetty.
The jetty and boat.
Somewhere on the Cumbria Way as our group heads north.
On this first day, Ian led another group on a longer walk, further north.
Coniston's famous steam boat seen through the trees, as we have our lunch stop near the lakeshore.
Walk 2 (Wednesday 22 Oct)

Even before we set off from Monk Coniston, I decided to put my waterproofs on.
Struggling on the ground to get them over my boots, it should have been obvious to me that this was an opportunity for Graham Batty to take a photograph of me in this ludicrous pose!
Therefore I show this picture with humility and my tongue in my cheek.
Graham Senior, Graham Junior and Rik in their 'Three Amigos' pose.
A nice vista of mountain scenery asd we head upwards towards Levers Water reservoir.
Having reached the ruins of an old copper mine and viewed objects in a makeshift museum, we pose for a photo at the copper-coloured monolith.
Relics from a bygone age where children as young as 11 were sometimes employed in the mines.
We stopped for lunch near the outflow weir of Levers Water.
This was the highest we would go today before we began our return journey to Coniston.
Sunlight warms the mist as we head back down towards Coniston.
Another nice photo involving sunbeams.
A group photo on the return journey.
Bright yellow fungi all over a grass field lower down...
...and now a pink one.
Approaching Coniston we cross a bridge over the old railway line, close to the site of the former railway station from days long gone.
We cross the beck with the rear of the Black Lion pub, which we are heading for.
At last, a chance for a good pint at the pub and brewery serving Coniston cask beers!
I had a pint of their strong IPA.
A pleasant way to end the second walk.
Walk 3 (Thursday 23 Oct)

We reached Tarn Hows, a National Trust beauty spot which I'm familiar with from my 2017 visit.
We stopped at the southern tip for a break, having just passed the waterfalls which emerge from it.
A view of Coniston Water.
Looking south.
A view of Tarn Hows from the eastern direction on higher ground.
Another photo from the same locality.
And another one, it's such a pretty place, formerly 3 tarns but now one large one with two islands within.
The Black Bull hotel, a favourite place, worth another photo!
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